The Light in your Eyes

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

"Miss Scarlett, breakfast is ready. You should go and eat before it gets cold," called a voice from outside her room. As always, Scarlett responded in her usual manner.

"I will be down soon," was her brief and simple reply.

"Alright, ma’am," the voice responded before going about their tasks. Scarlett finished getting ready and headed to the dining hall where only a few people were at the table—her parents and herself.

The rest of the family must have left home early as usual. Since Scarlett's arrival, none of the other family members had spent much time at home. Apart from the day Jade moved out, Scarlett's only morning company had been her parents. They all seemed preoccupied with various commitments, and she understood that a large family like this wouldn't have much time for leisure. She found herself appreciating the serious atmosphere of the household.

Although everyone seemed preoccupied and didn't prioritize getting to know each other, she was grateful that they had arranged for her to work at a law firm. This saved her the trouble of having to look for employment. Unlike the rest of the family, she wasn't required to work on weekends for the time being.

"Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad," Scarlett greeted them politely with a warm smile. With her qualifications and intelligence, she knew her biological parents were genuinely proud of her, and they always made sure to show it.

"Good morning, Scarlett. How was your night?" Gina replied with affection. She often looked at Scarlett with fondness. Despite Scarlett trying to maintain a serious façade while talking to them, her cheerfulness still shone through. Jade, on the other hand, had been a quiet and reserved child, and they hadn't made much effort to connect with her.

"It was fine. Thank you for asking. Have my older brother and sister already left for work?" Scarlett asked casually, trying to maintain a somber demeanor, which was quite tiresome. She sighed quietly.

"They had important matters to attend to at the company. Give them some time to finish up, and then you can get to know each other better. But for now, eat before the food gets cold; it's been served for a while now," her mother advised kindly.

"Okay, Mom," Scarlett responded with the same polite smile. She seemed to be oblivious to their affectionate expressions. She knew what she wanted and how to achieve it.

"How's the law firm your elder brother found for you? I told him to only find you the best working environment possible," Gina asked, her excitement evident in her demeanor, as if the job had been found for her. If Jade saw her excited expression now, she would cry tears of joy, as the last time the older lady was this excited for her was on Jade’s fifteenth birthday.

"It's good. The working environment there is amiable, and everyone seems to take their job very seriously. I heard it's one of the biggest and most famous law firms in the country. How did my brother get me employed there?" Scarlett gave a genuine smile, her passion for her work written all over her face when it comes to matters related to her profession. She was surprised that her brother’s connections extended to the most sought-after firm in the country and the dream workplace of every well-connected law student, The L.J Crawlings and Co. Despite her excellent academic performances and graduating top of her class, she wasn't confident she could secure a job there without using connections. Coming from a good family sure does wonders. She wondered how the former young missy of the family was doing on the other end.

"She must be regretting leaving behind all of these things," she thought to herself. It wasn't that she was rejoicing in others' misery, but she couldn't help but think of how fast things change.

"Scarlett! Why are you so lost in thought? I've been calling you for quite a while," she heard her mother say, interrupting her thoughts as she looked up at her mother.

"Nothing, mom. I was just wondering how Jade is doing, after all the gap between her real family and the one that raised her is really huge. I hope she will be able to cope with the changes," she said, trying to gauge their reactions toward her words.

"Stop thinking about unrelated things and focus on yourself first. Your workplace is quite competitive, a slight distraction can get you in trouble. Don't waste the opportunity your brother has found for you. Things about Jade are in the past now, stop overthinking things and focus on the present," her father, Lewis, said this time, his tone stern. He shared a look with his wife, and they both nodded with tacit understanding. They were both adults, how could they not understand the little plot in the young girl’s heart. Scarlett knew her mistake and quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry, it won’t happen again, and I promise not to waste my brother’s effort in giving me this opportunity," she said quietly.

"Don't be harsh on the poor girl, it is a good thing she is opening her heart to us and not keeping it all to herself," Gina said, reprimanding her husband. God knows the only person brave enough to face their stern father was their mother. Scarlett had also come to realize that their father was not the very friendly type and that he only smiled when she was present, probably so as not to scare her.

"Scarlett, don't mind him, you have your freedom of expression, and anyone trying to deprive you of that should see you in the court of law, alright?" Gina continued jokingly. "And Scarlett, I want you to know that in this house, you can be yourself. You don't have to try to fit in. We are grateful there's someone in this family who doesn't pretend to have facial paralysis all day long. You are our sunshine, and I promise you that we will do our best to make sure you never lose your beautiful smile." She concluded emotionally.

Scarlett was astounded and deeply affected but also very happy to know that they weren't being judgmental about her primary upbringing. “Thank you, Mom and Dad, I am so happy.” She couldn't find enough words to express herself, but with how excited she was, everyone got the happy memo.